UPDATE: The Jefferson County commissioners court denied the deputy constables' request to save their jobs.

BEAUMONT, Texas -Jefferson County deputy constables will make a final attempt Monday at saving their jobs before commissioners vote to adopt the 2010-11 budget.

At Monday's commissioners' court meeting, constables will present commissioners with a petition and presentation to keep three or four deputy constables positions.

The brouhaha between commissioners and deputy constables began in July, when commissioners voted during budget hearings to eliminate nine deputy constable jobs to make up for the $20 million deficit they faced going into the new fiscal year.

Jefferson County resident Rhonda Dugas started circulating the petition in August and said it now has about 3,000 signatures. The petition is not legally binding, but Dugas said she hopes it will show commissioners that the taxpayers are unhappy with their decision.

Precinct 6 chief deputy constable Karl Holmes said some deputy constables plan to retire at the start of the fiscal year, and others have found different jobs. They will ask commissioners to consider keeping the few deputies who still face unemployment.

County Judge Ron Walker said he thinks the proposal sounds reasonable.